Wild Nature,
outside commercial civilization,
runs on gift economy
("freely give, freely receive").
Thus it is balanced. Commercial civilization runs on thought of credit and debt ("knowledge of good & evil").
Thus it is imbalanced.
What nation can balance
its own budget or environment?
Gift Economy is Faith, Grace, Love
- the core message of every religion.
The proof is inside you:
Wild Nature is your True Nature,
crucified by commercial civilization.

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Thursday, September 20, 2012

Ode to The Holy Invisible Hand of the Free Market

Ode to The Holy Invisible Hand of the Free Market

Oh Holy Invisible Hand of the Free Market, we adore Thee above all,

and we sacrifice all our values and all that is life to Thee!We are the Righteous Right of Evangelicals, LDS, Catholics, Jews, and Atheist Libertarians and rabble-rousing Tea Partiers!How is it that we have put aside all our historical differences and come to perfect agreement? We exceedingly rejoice, for we have found the reason! Yes, we have found the one god we all have in common, through His Holy Profit, Ayn Rand (Blessed Be Her Name).Thou art the god who trumps all our core values, who trumps all our differences: Thou art the Invisible Hand of the Free Market, and anything that stands in Thy way we call evil!Thy wisdom in calling Thyself the Invisible Hand of the Free Market is awesome. For thy holy sake we hide the fact that "Free Market" is an oxymoron. For Thy sake we hide the fact that only that which is not owned and cannot be purchased is free. But Oxymorons fool the simple-minded and glorify Thee, and for that we praise Thee, Oh Invisible Hand of the Free Market!Yes, we sacrifice the very foundations of our religious traditions and the foundations of our American democracy and thousands of years of moral evolution to Thee with thy holy oxymoronic lingo!

Even as we Righteously Right Evangelicals, LDS, and Catholics mouth praises to Jesus, we sacrifice him and all that he taught on Thy Altar of Profit, Oh Invisible Hand!

We have found, like our Holy Prophet Ayn Rand (Blessed Be Her Name), that Jesus and laissez faire Capitalism are utterly incompatible.

But, because of our unwavering devotion to Thee, Oh Invisible Hand, we deny this blatant contradiction, we pretend to serve and praise Jesus. What better tactic to feign devotion to the most popular guy in history in order to promote Thy Cause, oh Thou beloved Mammon, our god above all gods!

Tar Sands Mining in Canada

We sacrifice all that is life to thee: our water, our air, our earth and all the living creatures depending on these things.We will gladly sacrifice all life, including our own, to extinction for Thee, Oh Invisible Hand of the Free Market. We even sacrifice our dignity and rational thinking and all Reality to Thee! We love Thee that much, and we are all yours! Yes, it's because of Thee and Thy Profit Ayn Rand (Blessed Be Her Name) that we Righteously Right Evangelicals, LDS, Catholics, Jews, and Atheist Libertarians and Tea Partiers miraculously see beyond our seemingly irreconcilable differences, joining in Perfect Harmony as One Mind!

For decades, we condemned atheistic regimes. We hated the USSR, claiming it was because of its atheism. But now we find that we adore Red China, because Red China, though its government still claims strict atheism, and still commits unspeakable acts against human rights, has bowed in devotion to Thee, Oh Invisible Hand of the Free Market, and serves us with its sweatshop slavery! Thou, Oh laissez faire Capitalism, art our Righteously Right New World Order, even as we belittle, call naive, and witch-hunt any real love, compassion, and authentic cooperation and ecumenical-ism as the evil "New World Order." How beautiful are thy Orwellian and oxymoronic ways, Oh Invisible Hand!We especially adore how Thou denounceth Big Government even as Thou art the source of all Big Government and Tyranny! How sexy is Thy tyranny!We praise Thy Holy Name, laissez faire Capitalism, and we denounce as Anti-American and Anti-Christian anything that stands in Thy way, even as we sacrifice our very US Constitution and our most basic Christian values to Thee! We adore Thee that much!

All that stands in Thy way is collectivist and altruistic. And we know thy Holy Profit, Ayn Rand (Blessed Be Her Name) said that anything collectivist or altruistic is evil.Yes, anything collectivist is contrary to Thee, Oh Invisible Hand of the Free Market. Collectivism is moochism. How dare we fall into the barbarity of Northern European and Canadian socialistic ways, when we could uphold the real man values of Somalia, a beacon of no government regulation! African Americans and Children had secure jobs, privileged to work sun-up to sun-down, in the old days before government regulated greed!Yes, Thy Profit Ayn Rand (Blessed Be Her Name), imparted to us amazingly profound principles and tweaked them to Serve Thee, and Thee Only, Oh Invisible Hand. She claimed that to serve the self is in the best interest of society, but to act altruistically is evil. How we nostalgically return to our black-and-white, wonderfully adolescent, humorless reasoning as we follow Ayn Rand (Blessed Be Her Name).

What a genius she was to reject the "collectivist" part of the Soviet system she escaped from, yet how she kept the Soviet black-and-white, humorless adolescent thinking that made the USSR the great empire that it was, throwing out the thousands of years of moral evolution with the bathwater. It was this black-and-white throw-the-baby-out-with-the-bathwater thinking that was Ayn Rand's (BBHN) genius in appealing to generations of adolescent thinkers of whatever theistic or atheistic dogma. For these are Thy Disciples and Thy Power, Oh Invisible Hand of the Free Market!

How oxymoronically beautiful that she denounced mysticism, just as fundamentalists of all religions denounce mysticism, even as her mystic devotion to Thee went beautifully beyond all rational thought and reality!Ah, yes, Collectivism is Evil, saith the Holy Profit (Blessed Be Her Name). This is why we, Thy Disciples, denounce all that is life, all that is real, because all of life, all of reality, is Collectivist. And Ayn Rand (Blessed Be Her Name) knew, like us, that reality stinks and fantasy rocks!

We must privatize, because privatization, ownership, is an illusion of fantasy, is Thy Holy Character, oh Invisible Hand of the Free Market, Oh Grand Illusion!

Yes, collectivism, sharing, is evil. Every single bit of sunlight, all air, all water, and all earth are collectivist, shared by all, shared by just and unjust alike. This is why we must not stop until all nature is destroyed! How can anything without a money value, not under ownership, be worthy to exist? We know that Thou art a god of fairness, which is why Thou hatest nature and all that is natural, because we all know nature is unfair. Sun shines and clouds rain and the earth sprouts food freely for the undeserving. How dare mooches get sunlight and rain! Yes, collective air fills the lungs of lazy moochers. This is why we must choke out the sun and poison the air with toxic emissions, why we must destroy our wild rivers and our land and forests and bring all under ownership. We must privatize everything, even selling water in bottles (whooodeverthunkit?), so that only we, the deserving, who work for money, can afford it. We are the only creatures that have to pay rent to lay our heads down on the earth, because we are the superior ones, Thy servants. We must destroy all who break Thy Holy Law, Oh Invisible Hand!Common sense is no fun, which is why we must destroy common sense. Common sense and our dictionaries tell us anything under ownership, possession, is not free. This is why we have oxymoronically given glory to Thee and declared that what is not free is free in our Holy Crusade to bring every single atom in the universe under private ownership! How beautiful and glorifying to Thy Name to call purchased slaves free!Quotes from Thy Prophet Ayn Rand (Blessed Be Her Name) and her devoted disciples:

"It
is precisely the 'greed' of the businessman or, more appropriately, his
profit-seeking, which is the un-excelled protector of the consumer." (Alan Greenspan)"It is the self-interest of every businessman to have a reputation for honest dealings and a quality product." (Alan Greenspan)

Alan
Greenspan so graciously spread the gospel of Rand's ideology, even as
he deregulated the banking industry and sacrificed the American Economy
to Thee, Oh Dearest Invisible Hand of the Free Market. Today, many
Randians claim Alan Greenspan went against Randian philosophy, willfully
ignorant that, at Rand's bidding and blessing, Greenspan entered the Federal Reserve
and continues as her unwavering disciple to this day.Yes, we worship and serve Thee above all, Oh Mammon, Oh laissez faire Capitalism!

I grew up
reading Ayn Rand, and it taught me quite a bit about who I am and what
my value systems are and what my beliefs are. It’s inspired me so much
that it’s required reading in my office for all my interns and my staff.(Paul Ryan, quoted in Daily Kos 2012-09-04 01:30:00)

The invisible hand of the market always moves faster and better than the heavy hand of government. (Mitt Romney)I made a lot of money. I’ve been very successful. I’m not going to apologize for that.(Mitt Romney)

What I have, I earned. I worked hard, the American way. (Mitt Romney)

Laissez-faire in the beginning

"Civilization
is the progress toward a society of privacy. The savage's whole
existence is public, ruled by the laws of his tribe. Civilization is the
process of setting man free from men."(Ayn Rand, The Fountainhead)

...the person who loves everybody and feels at home everywhere is the true hater of mankind. He expects nothing of men, so no form of depravity can outrage him.(Ayn Rand, Fountainhead)

The creators were not selfless. It is the whole secret of their power-that it was self-sufficient, self-motivated, self-generated. A first cause, a fount of energy, a life force, a Prime Mover. The creator served nothing and no one. He lived for himself.(Ayn Rand, Fountainhead)

Laissez-faire yesterday

America's abundance was created not by public sacrifices to the common good, but by the productive genius of free men who pursued their own personal interests and the making of their own private fortunes. They did not starve the people to pay for America's industrialization. They gave the people better jobs, higher wages, and cheaper goods with every new machine they invented, with every scientific discovery or technological advance- and thus the whole country was moving forward and profiting, not suffering, every step of the way.(Ayn Rand, Capitalism: the Unknown Ideal)

Laissez-faire today:
Direct product and backbone
of US capitalism

When I say “capitalism,” I mean a full, pure, uncontrolled, unregulated laissez-faire capitalism—with a separation of state and economics, in the same way and for the same reasons as the separation of state and church.(Ayn Rand, The Virtue of Selfishness)

I swear by my life, and my love of it, that I will never live for the sake of another man, nor ask another man to live for mine.(Ayn Rand)

---------------------------

Quotes from the Mormon Enemy of the Invisible Hand of the Free Market

Right wing Evangelicals, who have always loathed Mormons, now, all the sudden, adore Mitt Romney. Why? Because just as right wing Evangelicals have sacrificed the core values of their very own Jesus to the Invisible Hand of the Free Market, so Mitt Romney has sacrificed his own core LDS values to Thee, Oh Invisible Hand of the Free Market!

It's pretty damned obvious what the Bible says about accumulation of riches and oppression of the poor and basic sharing 101 (see The Way of Christianity and The Way of Judaism). But, even so, the Holy Christian Right, in their unwavering love for Thee, Oh Invisible Hand of the Free Market, can still deny the very Bible they love to thump and their very own human dignity for Thy sake! But what about the Book of Mormon and other LDS scriptures and scholars? They must be totally capitalistic and pro-greed, right? Think again.

Because of prominent Mormons like Mitt Romney, Orrin Hatch and droves of LDS leaders who wallow in wealth and serve Thee, Oh Invisible Hand of the Free Market and Thy Prophet Ayn Rand (Blessed Be Her Name), most people don't have a clue what the LDS scriptures really say. To know our evil anti-capitalistic enemy, lets take a look at their own LDS scriptures and Mormon scholars that are completely opposed to Thee, Oh Invisible Hand of the Free Market, and against Thy Holy Profit (Blessed Be Her Name):

But wo unto the rich, who are rich as to the things of the world. For because they are rich they despise the poor, and they persecute the meek, and their hearts

are upon their treasures: wherefore,

their treasure is their God. And behold, their treasure shall perish with them also. (Book of Mormon, 2Nephi 9:29)

But it is not given that one man should possess that which is above another, wherefore the world lieth in sin.

(Doctrine and Covenants 49:20)

But the laborer in Zion shall labor for Zion;

For if they labor for money they shall perish.

(Book of Mormon, 2Nephi 26:31)

Perhaps thou shalt say: The man has brought upon himself his misery; therefore I will stay my hand, and will not give unto him of my food, nor impart unto him of my substance that he may not suffer, for his punishments are just --But I say unto you, O man, whosoever doeth this the same hath great cause to repent; and except he repenteth of that which he hath done he perisheth forever, and hath no interest in the kingdom of God.For behold, are we not all beggars? Do we not all depend upon the same Being, even God, for all the substance which we have, for both food and raiment, and for gold, and for silver, and for all the riches which we have of every kind? . . . .And now, if God, who has created you, on whom you are dependent for your lives and for all that ye have and are, doth grant unto you whatsoever ye ask that is right, in faith, believing that ye shall receive, O then, how ye ought to impart of the substance that ye have one to another. And if ye judge the man who putteth up his petition to you for your substance that he perish not, and condemn him, how much more just will be your condemnation for withholding your substance, which doth not belong to you but to God, to whom also your life belongeth; and yet ye put up no petition, nor repent of the thing which thou hast done.I say unto you, wo be unto that man, for his substance shall perish with him; and now, I say these things unto those who are rich as pertaining to the things of this world. (Book of Mormon, Mosiah 4:17-23)...and some were lifted up unto pride and boastings because of their exceedingly great riches, yea, even unto great persecutions;For there were many merchants in the land, and also many lawyers, and many officers.And the people began to be distinguished by ranks. . . . And thus there became a great inequality in all the land (Book of Mormon, 3 Nephi 6)

Yes, the Book of Mormon is a Socialist conspiracy against Thee, Oh Invisible Hand:

And they had all things common among them;

therefore there were not rich and poor, bond and free,

but they were all made free,

and partakers of the heavenly gift. . . .

There were no robbers, nor murderers,

neither were there Lamanites,

nor any manner of ‘ites;

but they were in one,

the children of Christ,

and heirs to the kingdom of God.

(Book of Mormon, 4Nephi 1:3,17)

Now let's expose Thy Enemy, the late Hugh Nibley, one of the foremost scholars of the LDS church:

Hugh Nibley

The idler shall not eat the bread of the laborer has always meant that the idle rich shall not eat the bread of the laboring poor, as they always have.– Hugh Nibley

All my life I have shied away from these disturbing and highly unpopular—even offensive—themes. But I cannot do so any longer, because in my old age I have taken to reading the scriptures and there have had it forced upon my reluctant attention that, from the time of Adam to the present day, Zion has been pitted against Babylon, and the name of the game has always been money—"power and gain." . . . . Babylon and Zion cannot mix in any degree. A Zion that makes concessions is no longer Zion.

--Hugh Nibley ("What is Zion?" CWHN 9:58)

Closing Invocation For Guitar(to the Tune of "Leaning on the Everlasting Arms", words re-written by me)

v.2 {G} WHAT A FEAT TO HOCK {C} ALL THAT'S FREE AWAY! {G} LEANING ON THE MARKET'S {D} INVISIBLE HAND! {G} WE KNOW WE'RE ON THE RIGHT RIGHT PATH {C} SELLING SOULS DAY TO DAY, {G} LEANING ON THE MARKET'S {D} INVISIBLE {G} HAND!

v.3 {G} WHAT HAVE I TO DREAD? {C} WHAT HAVE I TO FEAR? {G} LEANING ON THE MARKET'S {D} INVISIBLE HAND! {G} UNREGULATED GREED, {C} MY LORD MAMMON NEAR, {G} LEANING ON THE MARKET'S {D} INVISIBLE {G} HAND!

Although I agree with you, I feel it may not be wise to point to the slave labors of a communist country (china) in order to argue against capitalism. They really are both just different cogs in the same machine. The reason no form of government truly works, is because it requires people.

The sweatshops in "communist" china are a direct result of our US capitalistic practices: corporations looking for cheap labor. A history of people fighting for just labor conditions was no problem for corporations. They found they could sidestep our laws and use slave labor in Asia (both "communist" and non) where there are plenty of poor people to exploit. They could do this, as well as launder their money in offshore bank accounts, all because of deregulation of greed.

A man from China explained the conditions of these sweatshops to me. He described them as towns that have been converted into concentration camps. They live, eat, sleep, and die there, no outside world because, food, and entertainment is "all provided" for them so they don't have to leave.

They turn human beings into gears to power the currency machine. Cycling fractions of the currency made back into the gears to keep it well oiled and maintained. To keep it moving. What happens when a machine gear breaks? It is cast aside to be replaced by a new gear. To be used as equally as hard.

I hope this finds you doing well and thank you for modeling that there is another way to live one's life in a time where many of us are swept away by the madness of "modern" life.

I read Mark's book and have been getting acquainted with you via the youtube posts and various articles on you. We have much in common both in terms of upbringing, life experiences, and philosophical outlooks.

With that in mind, and as one that continues to "minimize" my life (relative to "stuff-money-work") I wanted to ask a question if I may. I'm not that tech/blog savvy so I'm posting it here.

Like you I have and continue to work for social justice particularly as it relates to ongoing racism, heterosexism, sexism/misogyny, and class inequality. I have done that work for decades and wanted to pose a dilemma I struggle with. As one who yearns to simplify more and more, and eventually check out from the western lifestyle and paradigm (as much as possible), I can't help but feel I can't given the injustices I see around me, many of which I can impact as a white man. Put simply, and as one who lives on the buckle of the bible belt, I haven't been able to fully unplug given the things that continue to unfold around me. Some of those things include the mass criminalization of youth of color, environmental racism, overt homophobia and heterosexism, rampant sexism and the list goes on and on. Much of my inability to walk away also involves the love and relationships I have with folks who are being affected by these injustices.

With that said, I am wondering whether you think we, given our interdependence and interconnectedness, have any responsibility to intervene when and where we can (no matter how symbolic or small) relative to the oppression and marginalization of others? If so, how does that fit into our spiritual walk/journey? How does that fit with stepping out of these dehumanizing, de-spiriting systems (monetary, govt., educational, etc.)?

I'm sure you have thought about this a bit so I'd appreciate your insight on the matter. I also apologize if you've already addressed this somewhere on your blog.

Mark, all I can say is that, yes, we do have a responsibility to intervene, when we can, and not beat ourselves up when we can't. And if you have the power to walk away and your heart tells you to, do it! If not, you have work to do in the system first. We all have our places, and, ultimately, we all know what to do, but it is fear (mostly of what people think) that holds us back. In other words, to sound cliche, I don't have the answers for you,you do.peace & love rebounded

Thanks for your thoughts and time Daniel. I guess my problem is discerning what my heart is telling me. Its a bit schizophrenic these days.

I have a pretty solid sense of "self" so I am not aware of worrying too much about what others are going to think. I just can't seem to get clarity on when its time to let go, particularly if I don't think there's much hope for the majority of systems I've been a part of working against.

Hi Suelo,I read Mark's book and it had a really large impact on me. I am currently working on an organic self sufficient farm and enjoying it. Are there any other books that you suggest that a person new to this philosophy read? Thanks a bunch.RJ

Are we on the same page or what. I can not believe that you just wrote what I have been thinking about the last, oh, say, Three or four months. This summer I decided that my summer read would be "Atlas Shrugged" by said Ayn Rand ( hollow would be her name), ( crazed meth head that she was). Ok, then,So, if you want to get into a neo- con's mind, but who would want to, Read this book. It is the play book for the money crazed nut balls out there.pardon for the rant.Mark N.

Wow. At first I found this rather comical, then the further along I got, the more convicted I felt. And then I felt like I was in school, because I definitely had no idea who Ayn Rand was until reading this blog - very shocking the quotes that you posted. I'm rather shocked/surprised that someone actually said that! And she's definitely a name I've heard before - I remember when I was applying for college there was a nationwide scholarship competition to read one of her books and write an essay on it.

Artists create great work with no profit motive. This Ayn Rand ideology is the fruit of the desperate and uninspired. They are searching for what they love but the ideology clogs their mind so that they'll never find it.

Rand's ideas are way more alive & well today than when she was alive. Look around. The current head of empire and most of congress cows to her ideology, and the one running against him more-so, and the US population is lapping her up.

Dan you are falling into the trap of short term thinking To use Somalia China or Rand who I am know fan of is not why born again neocons such as Obama is.The empire started long before any of these people or states. Look around uniforms tanks drones that is the ideology. The lesser of two evils is not the answer.

Yes, Alex, the problem goes back further, to the beginning of "civilization", to the establishment of possessions and money, the theme of this whole blog, website, and my life. The answer? Stop participating in the rat-race, stop feeding the monster and it will die. But we don't see many people jumping on that bandwagon, do we? So, for those who participate, the lesser of any 2 evils is better than the greater, wouldn't you say? What else do you suggest?

Me: single mom, unconnected, pretty much alone w/in my community re: my ideas, which are in agreement w/yours.I want to disengage from the system, but have fear of being victimized in other ways (falling prey to other types of predators).My kids,18 yo transgendered FtoM w/eating disorder, 22 yo w/social anxiety.So,I try to grow my little biz to make ends meet.But,one thing I believe is that we all can start becoming creators, healers preparing for the new evolution.It has to start somewhere...one person at a time.Peace Pilgrim said it, Jesus said it. Love and forgiveness.Check out a small loving force of change in Rwanda at www.projectlightrwanda.com

Hello Dan, Americans are in denial they think that the lesser of two evils is the gospel way . I see the greater as nothing more than a charade in America. If you cast a vote you become part of the killing. I suggest peace not militarism,salvation not politics. Gandhi once said that democracy is nothing more than tyranny in disguise.

The lesser of 2 evils is simply the lesser of 2 evils. I know of no person who thinks it's gospel way, it simply is what's before us. If your daughter is being raped, I have no problem with you smashing the rapists' head in, a lesser evil than the alternative. If your right arm or right eye has gangrene, I have no problem cutting them off to save the body. We could talk platitudes of rape prevention, but in this critical moment they're meaningless. If you don't cast a vote you become part of the greater killing, greater selling off all that's free, greater exploitation of the poor. I prefer not to revolve my life around conspiracy suppositions, around what I don't know. Yes, the conspiracies could be true, but I don't know for sure. In the mean time, innocent until proven guilty. Show me how on earth voting can hurt and I'll tell people not to vote. I listened to Fox news, and they are absolutely elated that black-and-white disillusioned curmudgeons on the left don't want to vote.

"I suggest peace not militarism, salvation not politics." This tells us absolutely nothing. Alex, I'm asking what do you suggest we DO. In reality, we work everyday with imperfect people, imperfect systems, or else we do nothing. And we don't have to compromise our values at all to work with the imperfect. What I do know for absolute certain is that if you purchase most any corporate product, you vote for militarism and corrupt politics, moreso than casting any ballot.

The Gandhi you cite, by the way, fought and sacrificed for Indians' right to vote in South Africa, and he spent his life working in politics and with politicians, even as he knew the "democracies" he worked with were tyranny in disguise.

What a shame that peoples' ideals are not what they used to be. What happened to the self-sufficient, independent, and simplistic lifestyles of the past? Ah, socialized folk nowadays do not know what they are missing! I am glad you, Daniel, offer an example of what kind of life the people ought to live (or, at least, come close to). Generally, people just need to take a moment and use some common sense to wake up to their destructive ways. Too bad the disconnect is not visible. Oh! I got a question for you: What are your thoughts about language?

Suelo, you were one of the "teachers" that appeared when I, "the student" was ready. You met The Teacher in your escape from the world, that much is clear. You lived in peace and harmony and so you spoke about peace and harmony. Now, here you speak about "works". "After beginning by means of the Spirit, are you now trying to finish by means of the flesh? Have you experienced so much in vain—if it really was in vain? So again I ask, does God give you his Spirit and work miracles among you by the works of the law, or by your believing what you heard?" Galatians 3:3-5

Sure, you see evil in the world. It's the same evil that was there 10 years ago when you began your journey. You left the Machine and now you seek to put yourself back into it?

"I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you to live in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ." Galatians 1:6-7

I see the Teacher everywhere, in part thanks to you. Please remember:

The Tao doesn't take sides;it gives birth to both good and evil.The Master doesn't take sides;she welcomes both saints and sinners.

The Tao is like a bellows:it is empty yet infinitely capable.The more you use it, the more it produces;the more you talk of it, the less you understand.

Teachers are wonderful until they give us assignments, then we complain of "works."

Teachers are beloved until they get out whips and turn over money tables or get angry about the rich oppressing the poor as the apostles like James did and nearly every one of the Old Testament prophets.

"Faith without works is dead." You might want to read the context of those passages, do a word search on "rich" and "poor" and "do" and "works" in your Bible and see what you come up with. It can be quite astounding, quite contrary to typical Evangelical doctrine.

It is impossible for any living physical being to not work,to not take sides. Otherwise, they're dead. You might want to look at the essay:

Daniel, please don't get me wrong. I only comment out of brotherly love. I don't personally know you, I know. It's none of my business to judge you, and I'm trying not to. (I thought for hours what to write here) I have read all your posts and this is the first one that gets personal with naming names and so it has a strong, angry, political tone.

We all are given "works" but they are not our works. We can only do what was put in front of us to do (so no one can boast). We are also given faith. You yourself say: "Wild Nature, outside commercial civilization, runs on gift economy: "freely give, freely receive." Thus it is balanced."

So, it appears, you understand what some would call "Grace".

So, if you have Grace does not everyone have Grace?

Politicians are like any other human in the system. They do what is set before them to do. Just like a wild animal hunts and eats it's prey. We do not scold an animal for doing what it was designed to do (what was set before it to do).

You rage against the machine. You see the beast...Good! Work on the side of good against THAT evil is what I'm trying to say.

“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you (dual), that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous (non-dual). If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect (non-dual)." Matthew 5:43-48

When the battle becomes about fighting other PEOPLE who are we really fighting for? I do know who the "rich" and "poor" are. The people you attack here in this blog are the "poor" because they think they are rich. In fact the whole of the United States is one of the poorest Spiritual nations in the world because they think they are rich and powerful and have no reason to fear because of self-righteousness.

"One man pretends to be rich, yet has nothing; another pretends to be poor, yet has great wealth." Proverbs 13:7

I am the third person to bring this up to you on this blog. If you see the Beast (as I do as well) why do you seek to become part of the Beast by writing about siding with one of the lesser of two evils?

The essay you ask that I look at is actually an essay I complemented you on a few months ago. It has been bookmarked on my computer for over a year. I have already read it many times. So let me reference it here. You cite:

"Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things [Duality]. But One Thing [Non-Duality] is needed, and Mary has chosen that Good part [Only One Good! Non-Dual!], which will not be taken away from her." (Luke 10:41-42)

and compare it to:

The attitude in this matter, springing, as it does, from fixed resolve, is but One, O Kurunadana;But for those who have no fixed resolve, the attitudes are many-branched and unending.(Gita 2:41)

What I am saying is when you rage against people IN the machine you judge the One that made the machine (or allows the machine).

You ask above "So, for those who participate, the lesser of any 2 evils is better than the greater, wouldn't you say? What else do you suggest?" If you think your work is to change the world I can't help you. If you seek to change the world IN YOU then I say you already did that but now it seems like you want to go back to changing everyone else.

WE are the temple GOD is making. If we seek to make our own temple God has no choice but to tear it down.

What do we do? Perhaps the Zen are correct; "Before Enlightenment, chop wood, carry water. After Enlightenment, chop wood, carry water." There is no anger or sarcasm or worry in that. If you seek to save the world you will fail because the world has already been saved.

As always, Grace and Peace you you as you rest in the Masters Loving Embrace.

All I know is I feel really really really good about this blog post and I fully expected negative reaction. I wouldn't be real if I hadn't written it.

When we are grounded in the Highest Consciousness, our bodies and our minds act and are no longer do-nothing religion. "Fight" is the opening theme of the Bhagavad Gita, as Arjuna wanted to just sit in lotus the woods. Arjuna is baffled how Krishna could teach pure non-action and Non-duality and then turn around and ask him to take sides. Gandhi fully understood, against all opposition and opinions. Same with the Torah. "God will fight for you while you remain still" as the Israelites enter the land of Canaan (Commerce), even as they want to sit on their butts and watch God do it. The central theme of all true religion is that it is God (Tao) who acts, but only through you. Buddha teaches the 8-fold path of right action, but we only want meditation. The Taoist master knows that the secret of marshal art is to do nothing and let the Tao work through you.

I will side with Democrats when they act truth. I will side with Repulicans when they act truth. I will side with Anarchists when they act truth. I will express anger when I feel anger, because anger is an innate part of nature.

I'm know to change my mind when given a good argument. But here I simply can't feel doubt about this blog post.

Daniel, I do very much appreciate your frank and honest answers. Like I said before I do not judge you. I only seek to communicate what I see, as you have done with your blog and website for years (and done well at that). While I disagree it is only a matter of degrees. I'm sure we can agree to disagree :)

As one last thing, I would like to share this from a diary of a man who lived with Ramana Maharshi...(they call him Bhagavan here)...

A visitor told Bhagavan that he was working for Harijan uplift, that he and his co-workers in the cause had darshan of Mahatma Gandhi and got his blessings, that Mahatma Gandhi told them that if they could bring about marriages between Harijan girls and higher caste gentlemen, such marriages would have his blessings; and that he (visitor) would like to have Bhagavan’s views in the matter.

Bhagavan said, “If Mahatma Gandhi has said so, we will all hear what he has said. What more is there for us to do? He is a distinguished man and is working in that field.What have we to do with that?”

Turning to us, Bhagavan added,“If I open my mouth, something will appear in the papers that so-and-so has also said such-and-such a thing. The next day there will be people to criticise it. Our business is to keep quiet. If we enter into all these, people will naturally ask, and justifiably, ‘Why is he interfering in all these instead of keeping quiet?’

Similarly if Mahatma Gandhi keeps quiet leaving aside all his activities,they will ask, ‘Why is he keeping quiet instead of engaging in all these activities?’ He must do what he has come for. We must do what we have come for.”

Thanks, Timothy.Yes, ultimately, we must follow our hearts - some by engaging, some disengaging. Fetuses must sit solitary in lotus, children must be under tutelage of others, adults must engage and lead, and all have their profound wisdom by following their own true natures.

I was thinking of Mary & Martha again, last night, thanks to you. It was Martha's worry that was the problem, not her serving. It's better not to serve than to serve with bad motives. Otherwise Jesus wouldn't have upheld serving as a path to enlightenment, over and over. He would have said the same thing to Mary if she had said, "Could you tell Mary to settle down and relax!" When our mind is silent and focused on One thing, we can sit silently without guilt and worry, and we can work and engage without guilt and worry. And we can stop injustice in compassion with calm and equanimous anger. This is the principle message of the Gospels, the Gita, the Tao Te Ching, and the Dhammapada.

The strangest thing about the "invisible hand" is that Adam Smith used the term exactly ONCE in his book "The Wealth of Nations." That is hardly what I could call an over-riding theme of the book. It is more of a throwaway line that conservatives have latched on to. Further, in is previous book, he Theory of Moral Sentiments (1759,)he takes a far-less "pro-business" stance

Yes, and economists conveniently overlook that Adam Smith, though seemingly admiring this "invisible hand," later warned against unregulated laissez-faire capitalism and the tyranny it would obviously create.

The die-off starting 2050 isn't going to be like flipping the switch at Auschwitz. It's like what led up to the aroma therapy at the gas chamber. The huddled masses are now lining up like cattle, herding themselves into miserable trains where many will die early from cubicle induced cancers on the way to their ultimate aroma therapy.

I copied my comment from Dec 27, 2011 here (every couple months or so people are afraid I've strayed from my path and warn me of trying to change the world):

"Yes! I've had an epiphany: YES, I WANT TO CHANGE THE WORLD! Not a single LIVING creature on earth doesn't want to change the world! Only a DEAD creature doesn't want to change the world! Only in a culture of death (addiction) is it okay to hear crying and do nothing. Do you have a sense of injustice? If you do, you want to change the world. If you do, you are alive. The latest prevalent dogma of religious opiate is that it is egotistical to want to change the world. It's a twisting of profound spiritual teachings. Those who don't want to change the EVER-CHANGING world are the ones who want to change the UNCHANGEABLE laws of the universe! The universe is nothing but change, and its laws are unchangeable. When your roof leaks, you want to fix it. This is the Law of the Universe. When your neighbor is screaming, you want to intervene, unless you're addicted or have a pathological condition. Then you turn up the TV, put earplugs in, or you run away and hide to a quiet place. Only in modern civilization is it okay to leave a baby to cry, a dog to cry on a chain, a pig to cry in a factory farm, a child to cry in a sweatshop, all under the PRETENSE of not being egotistical, of not wanting to change the world."

Such a great insight and very inspirational.Though not entirely, this Dec 27 article reminded me of Aron Ralston's event in canyonlands.

"Like looking through a telescope into the Milky Way and wondering if we're alone in the universe, it made me realize with the glaring clarity of desert light how scarce and delicate life is, how insignificant we are compared with the forces of nature and the dimensions of space." -Aron Ralston, Between a Rock and a Hard Place

“Indeed, it has affirmed my belief that our purpose as spiritual beings is to follow our bliss, seek our passions, and live our lives as inspirations to each other.” ―Aron Ralston, Between a Rock and a Hard Place

Goes to show it can only take one encounter with the universal entity to open one's eyes to verity. It then becomes very very difficult not to share the outcome with others.

Yes. On the one hand, seeing a galaxy take millions of years to make a single revolution, we realize our insignificance. On the other hand, we realize from this the significance of our every breath and every step.

I've been so engrossed reading your website and some of your blog posts. Thanks for putting your thoughts online.

But I wonder why since you are thoroughly against using money because it is simply representative and so cannot (by definition) be reality (which I agree with) then why are you content with using language which is also a human invention that simply represents reality (all language is ultimately a metaphor) and cannot possibly be reality. Yet we settle for it because it still has utility.

I think money is mostly problematic today because it doesn't do a good job of representation. But that doesn't mean that money can't be redesigned with a better system of organization (especially better money injection and currency retirement rules.)

Another possible system could be a form of money that isn't representative at all. What if we used energy as money? Then it wouldn't be representative it would be a snapshot of reality. There would be some practical limitations to get around, but a combination of food energy, batteries and fuel could serve as accounting devices to replace money perhaps...

either way the level of consumption is the ultimate problem we face and your lifestyle is an effective way to reduce consumption so I applaud you and lifestyle in any case.

In this blog and in the website, I often compare money to language. Both are symbol.

I also have said many times that money is not evil, and is, in fact, a part of human evolution we have to go through for some strange reason. But I see it going obsolete, no longer useful. The only economic system I have ever witnessed that works (in balance with itself & with nature) is the pay-it-forward economy of nature, gift economy, where there is no consciousness of credit and debt. This means nobody worries who gets what for what, and it miraculously works out. Why must we think we have to use anything as money?

Suelo, thank you for your wonderful insights. I hope you answer my question. I'm genuinely curious what you think of it. Please keep in mind that it isn't meant to be rude. My question is: what if modern economics and everything to do with it is the only reason we are able to sustain 7 billion humans on this planet?

(Note that I am not suggesting that this is true; I am asking you to consider it hypothetically, since it is doubtful anyone will ever be able to prove it.)

Suppose that we could live in your utopia but millions or billions would have to perish. Is it worth it? How would we get ourselves out of such a trap?

Yes, the answer is "sustainable".Right now our population is not sustainable. We simply will not survive with our present economic system which takes takes takes and gives nothing back but plastic and toxic waste.

Think of this. Cities today, which are NOT sustainable, could become sustainable if we gave up our beliefs in credit & debt and possession and shared. 500 people on a block would stop using 500 washing machines, 1000 cars, 500 lawn mowers, etc, sharing only 5 or 6 of each item, reducing consumption by HUNDREDS-fold, and could use lawns to grow something sustainable, like food, could share meals, share friendship (ending the need for most paid therapy), etc, etc. What's keeping us back from this simple sustainability? Not reality, but our own minds, our own dogmatic belief in credit and debt and possessions. We are in a world of fantasy (unsustainable), not reality (sustainable).

Cancer, whose very premise is unlimited growth, is not sustainable, destroying its host. A liver or kidney or finger knows when to stop, and how to share with the body, and is thus sustainable. Does our commercial system ever say, "hey, we now have enough, let's stop now"?

Daniel, have you ever tried uniting other people with your philosophies and creating a community of people who shared the same vision. I think about trying what you're doing every day. It baffles me that people don't realize that money is not physically needed to accomplish anything. We could still live in a world with theaters and public transit and cars and hot tubs,etc, etc, all without money. The human race has enslaved itself and most of us don't realize it or want to realize it. I whole heartily support what you are doing and find you a true inspiration. Taelin

Yeah, I've thought of this lots. Still brainstorming, still brewing. Maybe I'll talk about it in a future blog post. This mustn't be a 1-man spectator show. One person doesn't have all the answers or skills and needs help.

If I can help in any way, let me know. Just a thought, but what about trying to unite everyone that is already doing what you're doing, all the people you referenced on you blog page. I realize some are in different countries but there has to be a way. Brainstorming with you.

Suelo, who do you suggest voting for when they are all corrupt? How can you with a moral conscience?

I don't like Ann Raynd but I also don't like a secular society that thinks she is the epitome of Christianity (rolls eyes).

You should read "Bad Religion, How We Became a Nation of Heretics". It talks about how people used to band together with religion in the name of social change (hello MLK JR.?) but how this left wing, right wing nonsense has debased religion to a circus ( paraphrasing of course).

I like the idea of denouncing people like Ayn Rand but not in the name of favoring communism or bashing real traditional religion. Look what happened with communist Russia...how many people were killed, churches destroyed, etc. in the name of a machine. It is just as evil as capitalism.

Putting aside ideology, we see simple reality. I can see how it can harm not to vote, but I can't see how it can harm to vote. Again, show me how voting can harm, and I will tell folks not to vote. You now have 2 choices, Romney or Obama, and you WILL get one, unless an astroid hits earth or somebody knows how to start a viable revolution (which could get co-opted and turn into a USSR scenario, which often happens). Which do you prefer? You WILL choose, you WILL vote for one or the other, by casting a ballot or not casting a ballot, you WILL vote. If you truly don't want to vote for corruption, don't vote with dollars - a vote that definitely does damage. If none of your dollars go to Chinese stuff, oil companies or factory farm meat, etc, then you are not voting for corruption and not supporting the corruption of either politician.

Yes, a main point of this whole blog is to demonstrate that we mustn't throw the baby out with the bathwater, to demonstrate that True religion has been and can be used as a force of good (As you say, MLK, as well as the abolitionists, suffragists, Gandhi, etc.) Nearly all the OT prophets & Jesus had angrily bashed religious hypocrisy, greed, and proclaimed basic social justice. And they were denounced as anti-religious and anti-patriotic. And true communism, sharing both goods and power (which did not exist in the USSR), is the very foundation of traditional religion, the essence of all nature. It amazes me that we will throw out the very essence of our religion in order not appear to be like our enemy.

There's a cartoon series coming out to supposedly educate kids about using money. It's called the Centsables. I wonder if Ayn Rand will be a featured regular as a mysterious oracle voice guiding them whenever they get into a jam? I would love it and it certainly would lend credibility it Suelo had regular character role in the show. Give the director a call Suelo.

Here is a link to the internet radio stations I listen to when I'm on here. I used to listen to these channels when I had a job because they were created exclusively for establishments and Internet Explorer, stopping them from being blocked by filters(which happened in my case). This one particular page has links and descriptions to 7 different channels that all play newer and older music. Lots and lots of indy and folk tunes. If these channels work for anybody, enjoy! ;)

This is insightful writing, Daniel. And I admire your courage: I've been totally disowned by several family members for finally writing/speaking the truth. It took me a long time to reach the point where I could tell myself that it was okay for me to disagree with my family about politics and religion. However, it still hurts big time to no longer have any roots. Anyway, I'm glad I discovered your blog. I feel much less alone.

Jesus driving moneychangers & merchants from the Temple.

Sadhu of India

Call me Suelo

I lived totally without cents since Autumn of 2000 (except for a couple months in 2001) until the Spring of 2016, when I started caring for my aging parents, managing their finances. For 15 years I didn't use or accept money or conscious barter - nor did I take food stamps or other government dole. My philosophy has been to use only what is freely given or discarded and what is already present and already running (whether or not I existed).
I don't see money as evil or good: how can illusion be evil or good? But I don't see heroin or meth as evil or good, either. Which is more addictive and debilitating, money or meth?
Attachment to illusion makes you illusion, makes you not real. Attachment to illusion is called idolatry, called addiction. I simply got tired of acknowledging as real this most common world-wide belief called money! I simply got tired of being unreal. Money is one of those intriguing things that seems real and functional because 2 or more people believe it is real & functional!